Enterprise software might not get as much attention as other tech topics, but it's essential to many organizations, as proven in a TechRepublic survey that set out to determine the current trends and future of Enterprise Application Software (EAS).

The term itself is complex, since enterprise software can apply to many components, including business intelligence, customer relationship management, and financial processing. There are dozens of vendors offering products, so it can get complicated figuring out which one to use. TechRepublic ran a survey in April 2013 to find out more about the current and future use of enterprise software. In the resulting report, IT leaders shared information on everything from the names of the vendors they use or are considering, to the reasons why they're dissatisfied with their current vendors and which options they'd rather have.

The survey sought input from current and prospective EAS customers to find out who is using enterprise software, who has decided against it, and to delve into the reasoning behind these decisions. It also showed that 76 percent of those using enterprise software are either "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with their current product, with only 24 percent "somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied".

Image: TechRepublic

The survey resulted in feedback on which vendors and components were valued, how pleased customers were with their implementations, and where the concept went wrong. The report also focuses on how cloud computing, big data, social media, and mobility factor into the enterprise software realm to gauge the impact of these surging trends.

It also detailed the size of the companies using enterprise software, with 68 percent of larger companies with more than 1,000 employees using EAS, versus only 32 percent of companies with less than 50 employees.

Image: TechRepublic

The resulting report offers a deeper understanding of enterprise software. Overall, the outlook was good for enterprise software, with some key areas for improvement. If you're using enterprise software in your organization, find out how your experience compares to that of others and what you might change. If you're considering an implementation, this survey can help address potential pain points and areas of concern to guide you down the right path.

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Teena Hammond is a senior editor at TechRepublic. She has 20 years of journalism experience as an editor and writer covering a range of business and lifestyle topics. More than 2,000 of her published articles have appeared online and in books, newspapers and magazines around the world.